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Political Campaigns
18
Political Campaigns in the US.
Get Ready
Get Ready
Does voting matter? Why or why not?
Interpret
Introduction
Put this quote in your own words
What the Social Contract?
Good government is one that governs only with the CONSENT of the people.
The social contract
Discuss: Did you sign the social contract?
Voting and the Social contract
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Standards
When you vote, you sign the SOCIAL CONTRACT, giving your consent to be governed, even if you don't like the outcome.
The First Democrats
Voting in a Direct Democracy
In Ancient Athens, a vote was taken for every issue. It was a simple "yes," or "no." All the men of Athens would line up and throw a stone into a giant pot. Black for no and white for yes.
Why don't we vote this way today?
Should we?
Dictators often rely on a "cult of personality" to maintain control.
Historical Campaigns
Joseph Stalin of the USSR was often portrayed as mythical figure of kindness and plenty.
Representative Democracies also rely on "personality."
Democratic "personalities?"
How does this image make you feel?
Evolving personalities
Let's discuss President Truman.
Truman was a transformative president, his decisions shaping our modern world.
Transformative
personalities?
He made the decision to drop the atomic bomb, initiated the first commission on Civil Rights for African Americans, and he voiced what would become the "Truman Doctrine, defining America's relationship with the Soviet Union until its collapse.
So what did his campaign look like?
Truman On The Trail
The whistle-stop
While Truman was very important, he needed to speak to the nation. In a time when few Americans owned a television, the only way to show his face was from the back of a train that traveled to coast.
In political campaigns, personality matters.
Campaigns today
Modern Campaigns
Clearly, personality still plays a huge role, and modern presidents still try and get face-to-face time with voters.
But things are a little different...
Today, television and internet ad sales are a huge industry, and political campaigns need to know how to TARGET their spending in order to swing the Electoral College.
The Big Money
These are "swing states," meaning that they can go either way. That's why campaigns spend so much money on these media markets.
Is New York a "swing" state?
Where's NY?
Task
Today...it's back to Athens...let's vote on the issues.
To do that, we need to understand the "left-right" spectrum.
Economically, the LEFT believes in higher taxes and a broader social safety net (welfare, unemployment, job training, etc)
Socially, they tend to be more liberal, embracing reproductive rights (abortion) and LBGTQ rights.
Economically, the right side prefers low taxes and a very minimal social safety net.
Socially, the right side tends toward more religious values, and are more critical of reproductive rights and LBGTQ issues.
This is the CENTER.
We generally differentiate between economic and social issues.
If you have no strong feelings about this, you might be in the center.
"Right" wing
"Left" wing.
The spectrum is designed to simplify and categorize political positions.
Final Task
1
Select a reading from the spectrum. You may choose Center-left, Center-Right, Far Left, Far right, or Center.
2
Read and annotate your text
Exit Question: Why do you think political scientists represent thought on a "spectrum?"
3
Create a pamphlet or poster that encourages voters to support your candidate
4
Submit to Mr. Gray to learn WHO your candidate was.